Button Needs a Quick Start at BAR, Says Fisichella

Jenson Button can make his life easier at BAR by outperforming Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in Sunday's Australian Formula One Grand Prix, according to former teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.

Briton Button had a torrid time as Fisichella's inexperienced teammate at Renault in 2001, his bright reputation suffering as the quick Italian regularly outqualified and beat the youngster.

After starting out at Williams in 2000 and becoming the youngest ever points scorer aged 20, Button left Renault at the end of last year and will be making his BAR debut when the season starts in Melbourne.

However he and 1997 World Champion Villeneuve have not been talking, their rivalry quickly becoming a talking point as the Canadian made clear that his teammate had yet to earn his respect on the track.

Fisichella urged Button to assert himself quickly.

"Jenson is a very nice guy, I had a good time with him," he said on Thursday. "I heard they are already fighting, which is not good, especially for the team. Villeneuve has been a World Champion, he's sometimes quite arrogant with a teammate or with some other drivers, he's a character.

"Jenson is much quieter. I think it is not a problem for him but he must be quicker than him on the circuit and then this is the best answer."